Just purchased a new toyhauler (Stellar 23LLG) and love it but now I am 2nd guessing the tow weight and more importantly the tongue weight. My TV is a 2011 F150 5.0 Supercrew 4x4 short bed. Its rated at 9300lb tow weight and the new Toyhauler is rated at 6320 dry and 1060 tongue weight. When I load it up with RZR 800, 1 quad, and water, that's an extra 2200lbs not including supplies and family. I do have a weight distribution hitch but the trucks receiver rating says 1050lbs with WD hitch. Of course the dealer said I would be fine because he tows with his f150 Ecoboost a 26ft stellar toyhauler that is a bit heavier and he load his RZR4. I am very concerned about it and want to stay within safety specs. I don't really don't want to get into a diesel if I can help it especially since I just dropped some dough on this trailer and also the cost of diesel fuel since I use for daily driving as well. Any ideas? Any thought would be appreciated.
Thx.
Dozer.

 

8520 pounds for the trailer. 10-15% of that is 850-1300 pounds, plus you, family, and gas in the truck. if your truck has a payload of 1050 i would say yes, you will most likely be beyond the "safety specs." what rear end does your truck have? how far/often/speed/elevation will you be pulling?

 

3.73 rear end. 3-4 times per year towing it. 65mph average. Once a year we will go to mountain terrain but most of the time its highway travel. Been eyeing a 08 f250 diesel but again don't want to if I don't have to.

 

Sure he does... and if you had a Tundra or Titan he owns one of those too!
Amazing he also has the same trailer as you as well... but bigger so yours is just fine.

I guess you missed the posts about salesman mis-representing to make a sale.

I work in the trailer industry. I am a service manager in a very busy trailer repair/service center.
Although you can tow more, most 1/2 ton trucks are happiest towing under 5000lbs. (able to maintain speed and control) Towing more than 5k on any regular basis and a 3/4-1 ton diesel is the best choice.

To put this in perspective I also get the top end tower issues like trying to tow 20k or more with a 1 ton truck... this is deep into 1/2 truck territory.
People and/or salesman are always trying to push their limits.

Right now diesel is cheaper than gas again.... finally.
If you want a cheaper towing alternative, there are plenty of older diesel truck (pre-00) with lower'ish miles that if you use it as a dedicated trailer hauler will last forever and are available under $5,000. That way your 150 will last longer and no worries about over limits.

That's the maximum speed for trailer tires so I hope you aren't going any faster.

 

You don't necessarily need a diesel, but you would be a lot safer with a 3/4 or 1 ton chassis. A Super Duty with a 5.4 is underpowered, but it will pull it. The V-10 gasser is a gas hog but it pulls like a locomotive and runs forever. The 2011+ 6.2 is a very strong engine.

The only 1/2 ton I'd pull that rig with regularly would be a Ecoboost or 6.2 F-150 with max tow and HD payload package.

 

SuperDuty stability difference is amazing compared to the f150.

 

Thanks for all the info guy. It looks as though the Superduty is probably the best solution. I'd love to own new but its not in the budget. Can anyone recommend best year? I like the look of the 08-10's interior and more power but I heard they eat fuel badly. the pre 08's are nice looking as well but interior is aged and have heard of issues with the 6.0L engine. Anymore input would be great.
Thx.

 

Any year, 10 or older, with a gas V-10 or a 11+ with a gas 6.2. I wouldn't buy a diesel for only 4 tows a year.

 

no way would I pull that load with an eko joke



a 6.2 or V-10 (6.8) F-250/F-350 would be a nice part time tow rig

 

An Ecoboost would pull it better than the 5.0 he has now.....................

Superduty for the chassis, not the engine.

 

the ecojoke is lucky if it can get out of it's own way empty...



my buddy has one, and my green truck will out pull it

 

My 5.0L actually has no problem pulling that weight at all. I can accelerate on uphill grade shifting down to 3rd at around 4k sweet spot for the 5L. Like I said before, power is not my issue. I am just trying to be certain that fully loaded this new TH will let my F150 still be a safe towing Vehicle. I am more concerned with payload capacity. I have been researching other forums and found that I have everything as far as options to be at "Max Tow" Mirrors, 3.73 gears, brake controller, upgraded radiator etc. Don't understand why my truck is stickered limited to 9300lb tow capacity. I have max tow options to make it 11k tow capacity unlike the door sticker says.

 

that 11k is with a different drive train, cab and bed configuration

 

And to pull that amount you have to still be within all your vehicles other limitations. GVWR, GCWR, GAWR.

 

Right - the max tow number is generally not your limiting factor. It's almost always payload/GVWR ratings that get exceeded first.

What you really need to do is load everything up and hook it up - supplies, family, everything - just like you are going out on one of your trips. Fill the gas tank and go run it over some truck scales (normally about 10 bucks at most truck stops). Add up the front and rear axle truck weights and compare that to the GVWR number on the door jamb sticker. People DO tow over GVWR with no issues, but only you can make the decision whether you want to or not.

You can talk theoretical numbers all day long, but only a set of scales will tell you where you REALLY stand.